“That's not true, Storm," Lisa said, doing her best to gentle her voice. "They came after you when you ran away. They wouldn’t have if they didn’t love you.”
Storm’s voice hitched. “They didn’t try very hard. The reality was they didn’t want me back. Their half-hearted attempt to find me meant nothing. Their money was half mine you know, but they left it all to the Perfect One. Why wouldn’t I want her dead?”
How twisted was that?
“I had Harold all set up. Kill my bitch sister, marry her grieving husband, get the money. When I got tired of the asshole, I’d take care of him too. Then you came along.”
Her hand steadied. Lisa’s mind whirled. If Storm succeeded, Harold would pay for a crime he didn’t commit.
“Did you know Harold before your sister died?”
“Not really. I’d "accidentally" run into him on occasion. I didn’t want to make my play until Tempest was out of the way.”
Cold-blooded bitch. “You won’t get away with this. They’ll find you, try you for murder, and put you behind bars for the rest of your life.”
“Not likely. I’m too smart for them.”
Where are the cops? The sirens? What's taking them so long? Wait...was that a rustle she heard in the hallway, or was it her own desperate imagination? She had to keep Storm talking somehow.
“Then why did you cut my cinch?”
Storm actually giggled, a creepy, horrifying sound. “Figured it would make you look more guilty. Almost worked.”
“You could have killed me.”
“You're too good. I only wanted to scare you then. Enough talk.”
“Wait! Why do you have to kill me now? Harold’s out on bail. He’ll be the number one suspect if you kill me. You won’t have a chance to get what you want.”
“You’re right. I don’t. It’s over. No trust. No big house on a hill. Nothing. Just like it was when I was a kid. And it’s all...your...fault.”
Her finger tightened on the trigger.
"Storm, no!"
Douglas roared the words at the same time he tackled Storm. The gun went off, the explosion ripping through the kitchen like a bomb. Both women screamed as he and Storm went down in a tangle of arms and legs, Storm's scream of outrage dying mid-screech on the way down. Douglas wrestled himself free and scrambled to his feet then looked down at Storm, unconscious on the floor. Apparently she'd hit her head on the corner of the countertop on the way down. Blood trickled from beneath her hairline, but other than that, she didn't move.
Neither did Lisa. He kicked the gun to the corner of the room, grabbed a towel from the kitchen counter, and ran to Lisa's side where he knelt beside her. “Are you all right?” She had to be.
But Lisa lay there, streams of blood running down her face. “No!” He pulled her into his arms. “Lisa!”
He loved her. Would he ever get the chance to tell her?
He used the dishtowel to wipe the blood from her face. Forcing himself to look, he examined the wound at her temple. It didn’t look deep.
She groaned. Moved as if to get up.
Alive! Gratitude welled up inside, almost choking him.
“Wha...what happened?”
“You were shot, honey, in the head. Storm fired her gun and the bullet grazed your temple.” He checked the wound again to reassure himself. Relief had his hands shaking.
“She wanted...to kill me.”
"I know. I heard. Nearly scared the life out of me." He looked over at Storm sprawled on the floor. “I think she got knocked out when I tackled her.” He looked at Lisa. Color was coming back into her face. She looked like Lisa again. Not a corpse. He pulled her close. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“I...I felt the heat of the bullet as it seared my skin." She stared up into Douglas' eyes, confusion roiling in her own. "Where did you come from? I thought I was going to die. Oh, God, my head hurts.”
His gut rolled. He held onto her as if he'd never let go. “You're safe now, Lisa. Safe.”
A door opened down the hallway. “Police!” a voice called out.
“Back here, in the kitchen!” Douglas yelled.
They came in with guns drawn. “What’s going on?”
"She tried to kill me," Lisa said, clearly still reeling from everything that had happened. "If...Douglas hadn’t gotten here when he did...I’d be dead.”
Douglas rose to his feet, hands held high. “I’m Douglas Callahan. The woman on the floor is Storm Collier. She killed her sister, Tempest Wheatley. "Her gun is over there." He indicated the gun on the floor and kept his hands up as an officer came forward to confiscate it.
"May I?" he asked before reaching down to gently pull Lisa up beside him. “This is Lisa Kane. Collier tried to kill her. You have the weapon.” He nodded at the officer who had retrieved the gun. “Are the EMT’s here?”
With Douglas' help, Lisa stood, her legs threatening to buckle. Everything had happened so fast she could barely take it all in. She’d almost been killed. Would have been if not for Douglas. Dizzy now, she went to sit down and took a minute to thank God for sending Douglas to her when she needed him most.
The room filled with men and women dressed in blue. Lisa had never seen a more beautiful sight.
A paramedic came over and cleaned her wound. “You’re lucky. A few millimeters closer and you wouldn’t be sitting here.”
Maybe not, but her head still pounded. Patty ran into the room and fell into Lisa’s arms. “Are you all right? Did that crazy woman hurt you? I thought I’d die from a heart attack when you yelled about the gun, and when you cursed."
“I’m so sorry, Patty." She hugged the young girl, sending the pain at her temple into a new crescendo. “This should never have happened. Especially with you here.”
“But you’re okay now?” Softly, she touched the bandage on Lisa’s forehead.
“I’m good,” she lied. All she wanted to do was lay down and sleep...preferably with Douglas at her side. Like that was going to happen.
“Douglas told me to stay outside, but I couldn’t stay there another minute. Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked again, then looked at the paramedic. “How bad is it?”
“Just a scratch. It’s so minor we won’t have to take her to the hospital.”
Patty grinned.
Douglas gently took the young girl’s arm and led her down the hall, toward the living room. “Why don’t you sit on the couch until the cops get through?”
“Lisa?” she called over her shoulder, resisting Douglas' attempts to remove her from Lisa's presence.
“It’s okay, Patty. We won’t be long. You don't need to see this right now.”
As if on cue, Storm regained consciousness.
The EMT’s were right there, not letting her get up, assessing her wound. “What happened?" she moaned.
“You tried to kill me,” Lisa reminded her.
Storm shut her eyes. “Nothing I do comes out right. Never has.”
“Will she be all right?” Douglas asked.
“She has a bump on her head, her skin broke and caused it to bleed. We’ll check for a concussion when we get her to the hospital.”
“She is under arrest?”
“Yes, Mr. Callahan,” one of the cops answered. “And we’ll be with her every second.” He handcuffed her before they put her on the stretcher.
Then the cops ushered them into the living room and told them to stay there. They'd be taking Storm out the back.
Patty was at the window watching the paramedics and police take Storm away. “There’s a crowd out there. And a TV truck. Ohmygosh! Is this going to be on TV?”
Lisa put her head in her hands. They didn’t need this.
Douglas called Darin who arrived at the apartment shortly thereafter.
While the brothers huddled together in a corner of the room, Lisa took Patty’s hand. “I’m so sorry you had to go through this. But I need to get you home now.”
“No. I want to stay with you like we planned.”
“We’re going to have to tell your parents what happened, Patty.”
“I don’t want to.”
That stubborn look settled around Patty’s mouth. Lisa had seen it before. “They have to know.”
“What if they won’t let me come here anymore? What if they make me stop being your little sister? What will I do? What about Sugar Cookie? If they go all stubborn on me I’ll never get to keep her. I won’t take riding lessons anymore. My life will be over.” She started to cry. “I’ll run away. I will.”
Lisa ignored the histrionics. “I’ll talk to your parents and explain. They’ll understand.”
“Are you sure?” Patty cried.
With everything going on, Lisa’s nerves were stretched to the max. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate. Tried to focus on what needed to be done, as opposed to what had just happened, was still happening, in her kitchen. She wasn’t sure about Patty’s parents. They blew hot and cold. She had a feeling they wouldn’t be happy with this. Lisa didn’t blame them. Patty had been at risk. And it was Lisa’s fault.
Douglas and Darin walked over to them.
“I just talked to Ryan," Douglas said. "He told me Storm couldn’t wait to unload.”
“Patty, why don’t you get Lisa a glass of water from the bathroom?” Darin suggested.
"But—"
"Go," Lisa ordered. I'll be fine."
“She claims you messed up her plan when you accused Harold. That all of this was your fault,” Douglas said when Patty was out of earshot.
“Yeah. She told me that.”
One of the cops came into the living room. “We’ll need to get both of your statements. Even one from the girl.”
Douglas handed him his card. “How long will it take?”
The cop looked at his watch. “About fifteen minutes for each of you. Less for the kid.”
Patty returned with the glass of water. "I got you some aspirin, too."
Lisa accepted the glass gratefully. “The EMT’s gave me a couple of Tylenol, but thanks. Patty? The officer wants you to tell him what happened.”
Patty grabbed Lisa’s hand.
“Don’t be scared. “It won’t take long.”
“Will you stay with me?”
“They couldn’t drag me away.”
Patty told them what she knew.
“I heard the commotion at the front door, snuck out the back and met Douglas coming up the walkway. I was so scared. I thought that crazy woman was going to kill Lisa ʼcause she had a gun. When I told Douglas what was happening, I thought he was going to faint he turned so pale. But he threw me his cell phone, told me to get in the car and call 911 and not come inside. Then he ran up to the front door and slipped inside, quiet as a mouse. I almost had a heart attack when I heard a gunshot.”
Lisa patted Patty’s hand. “You did good, Patty. Real good.”
The cop taking notes looked up. “Did you see the gun?”
Patty ducked her head, gave Lisa a sidelong glance. “I peeked around the corner. I wanted to help Lisa, but when I saw the gun I ran.”
“You should have run right away,” Lisa admonished. “If Storm saw you she would have shot us both.” The thought was terrifying.
The cop cleared his throat. “That’s it for you for now.”
“I’ll go next,” Lisa volunteered. “Watch over Patty?" she asked Douglas.
"Sure."
"Can you get her a soft drink or something? She’s really upset.”
“I’ll take care of Patty. You take care of yourself.”
It took a little longer than fifteen minutes, but when Lisa was finished she felt better.
“Your turn,” she told Douglas.
He didn’t take as long. When he was done, he escorted the remaining cops out after they told him they might need them to answer more questions later.
Still shaking from her ordeal, Lisa watched Douglas in pure misery. Why did he have to look so good? How long would it take to get over him? Especially now, after he'd saved her life? Maybe she should be drinking something besides water. A glass of wine would calm her nerves, but Patty was here and Lisa never drank when she was with Patty.
“It’s over now, Lisa,” Douglas said, pulling her into his arms.
"Except for the trial."
It seemed that she had been involved in Tempest’s case for a year instead of just a few weeks. Lisa wanted very much to get back to her life again.
Unfortunately, it would be a life without Douglas nearby.
“Darin, why don’t you take Patty home?” Douglas asked.
“No!” Patty objected. “I’m staying here.”
Lisa started a protest of her own, then looked into Douglas’ eyes and saw his determination. Her heart lifted. He’d been so concerned, so worried when he thought she’d been seriously injured. Not just tonight, but when she fell at the rodeo. But right now, she was still reeling from Storm’s attack and Patty had to be dealt with.
“I need to go with her."
“I don’t want to leave you,” Patty wailed.
“I’ll take you home and talk to your parents. We need to tell them what happened before they see it on the news.”
Darin cleared his throat. “I can do that. Come on, Patty. I'll get you past that crowd.”
"But—"
Lisa, you need your rest,” Douglas insisted.
"I can explain things to her parents,” Darin said. “It will be all right, Lisa."
She turned to the two handsome men who were trying to help her. Just this once she wanted them both to understand. “I know I need my rest,” she said. “But right now my responsibility is clear. I take Patty home. I explain what happened here to her parents. Not Darin. Not you, Douglas. Me.”
She stood there with her arms crossed over her chest. “Patty, get your things.”
“I…”
“And don’t argue.” She went over to Darin, kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for always being here when I call.”
“Why don’t I drive you,” he suggested.
“I will,” Douglas volunteered as he shrugged into his jacket.
“Really, guys. I can do this on my own.”
“I know you can, Lisa,” Douglas agreed, his mouth clamped tight. “But either I take you or Patty goes home with Darin.”
She gave a half-hearted shrug. When Douglas was like this there was no arguing with him.
“Pack an overnight bag, Lisa. Once Patty’s home, we’re going to my house.”
“But…”
“No but’s. Your kitchen is a mess and you’re in no condition to clean it up.”
“I can’t talk you out of this? You could drop me at TJ’s.”
“Not a chance.”
So here she was packing a bag to stay with Douglas again. Just like before. She didn’t know how much more she could take. If he kissed her forehead and tucked her into bed in the guestroom one more time, she swore she was going to deck him.
Ready now, she took Patty’s hand and ushered her out the door. Keeping her temper under control wasn’t easy. Not when she wanted to curl up in her own bed with a glass of red and relax.
Thirty minutes later, they were at Patty’s.
Douglas jumped out of the car and went to open the doors for the ladies, then started to follow them down the sidewalk.
“I don’t need a lawyer, Douglas,” Lisa reminded him.
His steps slowed. “Could you use a friend?”
She walked back to where he stood, his face stern and determined. “Always. Just not right now. I have to do this alone.”
When he opened his mouth to argue, she put a finger to his lips. “If I need you, I have you on speed dial.”
Knowing he’d lost this one, he headed back to the car.
Lisa smiled inwardly. It wasn’t often anyone could persuade Douglas to do something he didn’t want to.
After Patty’s parents were told what had happened, they were first shocked, then angry. It took longer than Lis
a had imagined to calm them down. And it took every bit of her people skills to convince them this would never happen again; that if she was ever put on a dangerous job again, they would be informed, and Patty would be off limits for the duration.
After a flurry of questions, reassurances and promises, they agreed to give Lisa another chance. She figured it was her last one. Another episode where Patty could be in danger would be the end of their relationship.
The thought didn’t sit well. As far as Lisa was concerned, Patty was part of her family. To lose her would be devastating.
“How did it go?” Douglas asked as he backed out of the driveway.
Lisa sighed and put a hand to her head. “It wasn’t easy to convince them to trust me again.”
“But you did convince them.”
“Yeah! Finally.”
He reached over and patted her leg. “Good. I know how much she means to you.”
Lisa pulled out her cell and called TJ. If she saw the news, she’d have a fit. It took almost as long to convince her best friend she was okay as it took to convince the Wells’ she could be trusted with their daughter.
When they arrived at Douglas’, he opened the door to let Lisa precede him. She headed straight for the guestroom.
"Lisa, wait!" He caught her halfway there.
She swung around, making her head spin. “What now, Douglas? As you've told me, I need my rest.” She needed to get away from him as fast as possible. Just being here brought back their many encounters when she’d been here before: the longing, the knowing nothing would ever change between them.
“Lisa.” He tugged her toward him.
Wearily, she let him draw her near. “Goodnight, Douglas. Thanks again for being there for me when I needed you.”
Gently, he pulled her close and kissed her forehead.
Chastely.
Oh, for Pete's sake. Not again. She was going to scream if he kept this up.
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
No, she wasn’t. But not for the reason he thought. She put a hand to her pounding head where the bullet had grazed her skin and felt the bandage. “It’s sore. But not nearly as bad as my last injury.”
He wrapped his arms more securely around her. “I thought I’d die when Storm’s gun went off."
"Why were you even there?"
Promise Her Page 21
